Five Ways to Feel Like a Kid in Windsor

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You're only as old as you feel. What better way to maintain your youth, than to have some child-like activities in your schedule? Here's a list of some ways you can feel like a kid in Windsor, whether you've just entered adulthood or you're a veteran of the human race.

1. Comic books certainly aren't just for pre-teen boys, anymore. The boys of the Big Bang Theory may have invigorated comic culture for some, but here in Windsor, we've always known the value of a good superhero story. There are a few different ways to get your comic rocks off, including stellar shops like Rogues Gallery and Border City Comics, a regular 1/2 hour comic review show on Cogeco, and new this year, Windsor's first comic book convention in two decades. Making a special appearance at the Merry Comic Book Christmas Con is our own masked avenger, the Crimson Canuck, who has been making headlines with his battle against homelessness in our city.

2. If comic books were for little boys, than crafts are for little girls. Except that crafting is now done for many different reasons, by many different types of people. Crafting is a Canadian pioneering tradition, and Windsor has taken the serene past time to a new level, with fundraising efforts like Lee Lee Hats, regular Stitch n' Bitch sessions, and giant craft bazaars like the Made in Windsor Holiday Sale that recently took place in Walkerville. Knitters, seamsters, glass-blowers, painters, potters... crafting has surpassed hobby-status for many, earning creative types a bit of extra cash (and in some cases, raking in enough to live off of). Creating something from scratch is a action to take pride in, and many of us remember the first time we were able to say, "I made this!"

3. There are few things that transport me back to my youth faster than a brisk bike ride. Windsor-Essex boasts some beautiful trails to ride on, including off-road routes through Malden and Ojibway Parks, the 42km Chrysler Canada Greenway that stretches across the county, and the city's gem, the Riverfront Trail. If organized rides are what you're after, keep an eye out for WindsorEats various guided tours (that usually include stopping at wineries or breweries), go on a two-wheeled bi-national adventure at the annual Bike the Bridge event, or satisfy your need for speed with the East Side Riders as they train for races.

4. When you remember your childhood, your first thought is probably of your parents, followed very closely by a fond memory of one of your favourite toys. Cabbage Patch Kids, G.I. Joe and Barbie dolls, My Little Pony, Easy Bake Ovens, Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head, and the most evolved of "toys", remote controlled vehicles. From trains to helicopters, RC toys have accompanied their owners from childhood to adulthood, getting more and more intricate and powerful. Action Hobbies in Kingsville is the best place to find the perfect remote-controlled vehicle, which will instantly turn you into the train engineer, fighter pilot or race car driver you've always dreamed of becoming.

5. As the jolliest of seasons approaches, you'll be reminiscing of happy family times attending your hometown's annual Santa Claus parade. The crowd of kids lining the street, hands outstretched to catch a candy cane, the biggest and brightest smiles plastered on their faces, fantastical floats and magnificent marching bands, everyone decked out in their ugliest (rather, snuggliest) Christmas sweaters... just try to resist the temptation to lock arms with your loved ones and skip down the sidewalk, caroling at the top of your lungs. This year, Windsorites will experience two Santa Claus parades; December 1st will see the fat man in red make his way down Riverside Drive into Olde Sandwich Towne, and two weeks later, Santa returns for a jaunt down Ouellette for the city's Winterfest on December 15th. If you can't wait that long to see Santa, head out to Leamington or Amherstburg for their annual Christmas parades on November 24th, or visit Santa in Tecumseh at their parade on November 30th.